Honeymooner completely 'vanished' on cruise ship and widow shared harrowing theory on what may have happened

In the early hours of 5 July, 2005 George Smith went missing on the cruise ship Brilliance of the Sea, and his body was never found.

He was on his honeymoon with new wife Jennifer Hagel, with the couple having tied the knot 11 days earlier and set off on a two-week cruise around the Mediterranean.

There were suspicious circumstances around 26-year-old George's disappearance, with blood stains found on the side of the ship pointing towards him having gone overboard.

However, the presence of two small blood stains on his bedsheets in his cabin led the police to suspect that some foul play might have been involved.

A chair had been found placed against the balcony railing in their cabin, and the ship's captain said the most likely outcome was an accident, guessing that George had fallen overboard.

The last known image of George alive, in the cruise ship's casino. (Royal Caribbean)

Jennifer ended up supporting this version of events as in 2007, she agreed to a $1.1 million (£862,000) settlement with cruise operator Royal Caribbean, giving a statement where she said that George might have fallen off the ship while trying to balance on the balcony in their cabin.

The Smith family disputed this version of events but reached their own settlement with Royal Caribbean in 2011, and the criminal investigation into George Smith's disappearance was closed in 2015.

Suspicion of foul play centres on the blood stains on George's bedsheets and the actions of four men who were among the last to see the 26-year-old alive.

Josh Askin, Rusty Kofman, Greg Rozenberg and Zach Rozenberg were interviewed by police and said they had partied with George in the hours leading up to his death.

The four men said they'd taken George back to his cabin shortly after 4am on 5 July, taking off his shoes and putting him to bed before going back to one of their own cabins and ordering room service.

According to CBS, the ship's records don't show evidence of room service being delivered to any of the men's cabins, though a legal representative for Askin argued that it could simply have been an oversight in records that were hand-written, basically meaning someone might not have written down the order.

A blood stain was found on the side of the ship. (Royal Caribbean)

25 June - The wedding

George Smith and Jennifer Hagel tied the knot at a ceremony in Newport, Rhode Island, less than two weeks later, George would be dead and Jennifer would be a widow.

29 June - The cruise

Departing from Barcelona, the new couple set sail on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Brilliance of the Seas for their honeymoon, with the plan to be a two week cruise around the Mediterranean stopping in countries such as Italy, Greece and Turkey.

While on the cruise, George met the Askin family during a stop off in Italy, including the 20-year-old Josh Askin.

4 July - Mykonos

The day of 4 July was the last time George was on dry land, as he and Jennifer toured the island of Mykonos.

According to Jennifer, the couple then had dinner on board the cruise ship.

Blood on George's bedsheets raised suspicions as to what actually happened. (Royal Caribbean)

Midnight - The casino

CCTV showed that George and Jennifer went into the ship's casino at about midnight, cameras in the place also showed the final known images of George being alive.

4am, 5 July - The cabin

Josh Askin, Rusty Kofman, Greg Rozenberg and Zach Rozenberg told police that they partied with George in the early hours of the morning before taking him back to his cabin and putting him to bed.

They claim they took his shoes off and put him in his bed before going back to one of their own cabins and ordering room service, though the cruise ship's records don't show a log of this.

4:30am, 5 July - Jennifer is found

Jennifer is found passed out in a hallway on the ship at around this time, she said that she had little memory of what happened after leaving the casino.

The four men interviewed by police who said they took George back to his cabin and put him to bed. (CBS)

7:30am, 5 July - The blood stain

Shortly after George went missing a blood stain was spotted on the side of the cruise ship, leading many to believe he fell over his balcony and went overboard.

5 July - The investigation

A police investigation finds traces of blood on George's bedsheets and a chair placed against the railing on his cabin's balcony.

No body was ever found, meaning George Smith remains missing, presumed dead at the age of 26.